Mounting manifold for dispenser valves



United States Patent [72] inventor William R. Fuerst Park Ridge,Illinois [21] Appl. No. 667,538 [22] Filed Sept. 13, 1967 [45] PatentedNov. 17, 1970 [73] Assignee Eaton Yale 8t Towne Inc.

a corporation of Ohio [54] MOUNTING MANIFOLD FOR DISPENSER VALVES 7Claims, (Drawing Figs.

'[52] US. 137/606, 25 1/ 149.5 [51] int. Cl. Fl6k 19/00 [50] Field ofSearch 137/606, 6l4.06;251/89.5, 149.9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,070,700 8/1913 Knauf251/1499 2,352,434 6/1944 Hoagland 251/149.9X 2,770,256 11/1956 Krapp137/614.06

'- FORElGN PATENTS 175,370 2/1922 Great Britain 25 l/ 149.9

Primary Examiner-Robert G. Nilson Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross& Simpson ABSTRACT: Mounting manifold forming a mounting for theelectrically energizable dispenser valves of a drink dispenser andaccommodating quick detachment of the valves from the manifold withoutshutting off the fluid inlet lines or pressures in the dispensercabinet. The manifold has two inlets leading into one end thereof, onefor syrup and the other for water, although it also may have an inletfor carbonated water. Two outlet fittings lead from the opposite end ofthe manifold forming a support for the dispenser valve block. A shutoffvalve is in association with each associated inlet and outlet and isoperated by an individual valve stem, to shut off the flow and pressurethrough the manifold. A locking plate has clamping engagement with themanifold inlets to bring the valve block into tight engagement with themanifold and to retain the dispenser valves to the manifold. The lockingplate has a ledge extending over the valve stems of the shutoff valvesin the manifold. This ledge is apertured to accommodate the valve stemsto extend therethrough and retain the locking plate in a lockingposition when the manifold valves are open. The valve stems are shown asbeing threaded in the manifold. As these stems are threaded inwardlyalong the manifold to close the shutoff valves the locking plate isreleased to accommodate removal of the dispenser valve block from themanifold without shutting off the pressure lines in the dispensercabinet.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 I 3,540,476

Sheet Z ot2 INVENTOA.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In carrying out the presentinvention I provide a manifold having a series of inlets leadingthereinto and a shutoff valve in the manifold in association with eachinlet. I'also detachably mount the valve block for the dispenser valveson fluid pressure outlets leading from the manifold and lock the valveblock to the manifold by a locking plate pivoted to the valve block andheld in a locked condition as long as the shutoff valves are open, andonly released when the two shutoff valves are closed.

A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide asimple and improved form of.mounting means for the dispenser valve of adrink dispenser, accommodating quick removal of the dispensing valve forservice, without interrupting the inlet fluid pressure lines supplyingfluid to the manifold.

Another object is to provide a simple and improved mounting for thedispensing valves of a drink dispenser, forming passageways for fluidfrom the dispenser cabinet to the electrically energizable valves of thedispenser, in which the block for the dispenser-valves is detachablymounted on outlet fittings leading-from a manifold mounted on thedispenser cabinet, and is locked to the manifold as long as outletpressure flows through the outlet fittings.

A still further object of the invention is to simplify the mountingmeans for dispenser valves on a dispenser cabinet, by providing.mounting manifold in association with the outlets from the dispensercabinet, and having shutoff valves con-' trolling the flow of syrup andwater through the manifold to the dispenser valves, in which asimplified form oflock plate on the block for the dispenser valves locksthe block to the manifold and is releasable only when the shutoff valvesin the manifold are in their fully closed positions.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to timeas the following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. Iis a vertical sectional view taken through a manifold constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing themounting for a dispenser valve block on the manifold and the lockingmeans therefore, with a dispenser valve shown in side elevation, and thecover for the valves shown in vertical section.

FIG. 2 is a view looking at the dispenser valves and valve block fromthe rear'end thereof, with the valve block removed from a manifold andthe locking plate shown in a locking positron.

FIG. 3 is a view looking at the rear end portion of the manifoldgwiththe outlet fittings leading from the dispenser cabinet inverticalsection and showing the means: for clamping the manifold to the outletfittings; and

FIG. 4is afragmentary horizontal sectional view of the manifold anddispenser valve body taken substantially along the centers of the outletfittings and'fluid passageways leading therealong.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION In FIG. I of thedrawings, l have shown a dispenser valve body IO-mounted'on a manifold11, in accordance with the principlesofthe present invention. The valvebody 10 may be made from 'a-conventional thermoplastic material, such asnylon, lucite, or any other suitable material and forms the passagewaymeans and mounting for a syrup valve 11 and a second valve 12, which maybe a plain water or carbonated A cover 16. extends over the valves 11and 12 and the respectiveisolenoids 13 and 14 into engagement with thevalve body and manifold 11, and is secured thereto as by a machine screw17. The machine screw 17 extends through the top of the cover 16 and isrecessed therein and has threaded engagement with a connector bridge 18,midway between the solenoids 13 and 14. The bridge 18 abuts the tops ofthe casings for the solenoids 13 and 14, and is suitably securedthereto. The cover 16 isalso shown in FIG. 1 as extending downwardlyalong the vertical face of a rear shouldered portion 19 of the manifold11" (FIG. 1).

Y The valve body 10 is provided with two upwardly opening sockets 19 forpassageway plugs 20, sealed to said sockets as by O-rings 21. The plugs20 each have a passageway 20" leading therethrough affording inletcommunication with the respective valves 11 and 12. Said plugs areremovable to accommodate ready cleaning of the valve passageways whendesired. The plugs 20 are retained in position by washers 22 and machinescrews 23 threaded in a wall 24 of the valve body 10 from the topthereof. The valve body 10 also has spaced parallel inlet sockets 26 and27 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The sockets 26,- and 27 have communication with arespective valve 11 or 12 through the passageways 20 in the plugs 20. Asherein shown, the larger diameter socket is for syrup and hascommunication with the valve 11 through the associated plug 20. Thesmaller diameter socket is for water and has communication with thevalve 12. A third socket may be provided for CO if desired. The manifoldll has connector fittings 30 and 31 extending outwardly therefrom andfitting into the respective sockets 26 and 27 to supply fluid to thevalves 11 and 12 respectively and to form a mounting for the valve bodyon said manifold. As shown in FIG. 4, the connector fittings 30 and 31have fluid passageways 32 and 33 respectively, leading therealong. Thepassageways 32 and 33 respectively terminate into axially alignedenlarged diameter flow control chambers 35 and 36, respectively, havingannular flow control valves 37 and 38 therein, reacting againstshoulders formed by inner end walls of the sockets 26 and 27 in thevalve body 10. .The flow control valves 36 and 37 are each of a similarform and are formed from a resilient annulus having a central passagewayleading therethrough and having recessed downstream faces 39 and 40respectively, which allow the orifices leading through said flow controlvalves to restrict upon increases in pressure on the upstream faces ofsaid flow control valves, to maintain a relatively constant flowregardless of variations in pressure. O- ring seals 41 and 42 arerecessed within the respective connector fittings 30 and 31 to seal saidfittings to the respective sockets 26 and 27.

The mounting plate or manifold 11 alsohas inlet sockets 44 and 45opening thereinto, each of which forms a mounting for a separateconnector 47 sealed thereto as by O-rings 48.

nectors 47 is made, the machine screw 53 may be tightened topositively'connect the manifold to the connectors 47. The manifold alsohas a plurality of threaded bosses 55in the back face thereof, which mayafford a means for securing the manifold to the dispenser cabinet, as bymachine screws (not shown).

The inlet socket 44 has communication with'a passageway 56 leading intoa generally vertically extending valve chamber 57. The valve chamber 57has a reduced diameter outlet 59 leading from'the bottom thereof to theaxial passageway 32 leading through the inlet connector 30.

The valve chamber 57 has a valve plug 60 slidably mounted therein havingatapered valve face 61 cooperating with a seat formed between the bottomof the valve chamber 57 and the passageway 59 to form a shutoff valveshutting off the flow of fluid through the passageway 32. An O-ring seal63 is provided to seal the valve plug 60 to the chamber 57. The valveplug 60 has an integrally formed valve stem 65 extending upwardlytherefrom slotted at its upper end to receive a screwdriver and the likeand threaded within a nut 66 recessed in the top of the manifold bodycoaxial with the axis of the valve chamber 57. Screws 68 threaded in themanifold 11" from the top thereof are provided to retain said nut tosaid manifold. Turning of the valve stem 65 by a screwdriver and thelike, will thus move the valve face 61 into engagement with the shoulde.formed between the chamber 57 and outlet passageway 59 to shut off theflow of fluid from the passageway 56 through the passageway 32, when itis desired to remove the valve body from a manifold 11.

The inlet socket 45, in a like manner has communication with a valvechamber 70, like the valve chamber 60 and having a shutoff valve (notshown) therein like the shutoff valve' 61 and also having an integralthreaded valve stem 71, threaded in a nut (not shown) like the nut 66,and adapted to be engaged by a screwdriver to close the valve, when itis desired to remove the valve body from the manifold 11''. This shutoffvalve and valve stem are exactly like the shutoff valve 61, so adescription thereof need not be repeated herein, and the second shutoffvalve need not be shown.

The outlet connector 30, leading from the manifold 11", has an upwardlyopening slot 72 therein having an inclined forward wedging face 73adapted to be engaged by a locking plate 75 to draw the valve body alongthe connector 30 and lock the valve body in place on said connector(FIG. 1). The outlet fitting 51 also has a similar slot (not shown)formed therein engaged by the locking plate 75.

The locking plate 75 extends generally vertically and is pivotallymounted on the valve body 10, adjacent one side thereof, on a pivot pin76, shown as being in the form of a machine screw threaded in said valvebody (FIG. 2). The locking plate 75 also has a ledge 77 extending alongthe top thereof and beyond opposite sides thereof terminating at one endinto an upwardly inclined hand grip portion 79, adapted to be engaged bythe hand, to move said locking plate through slots 80 in the connectorsockets 26 and 27 into engagement with the slot 72 in the outlet fitting30 and a similar slot (not shown) formed in the outlet fitting 31. Theledge 77 extends over the valve stem 65 and has apertured portions 82leading therethrough registering with the valve stems 65 and 73.

When locking the valve body to the manifold 11", the valve 61 is closedand the valve (not shown) associated with the water inlet passageway isalso closed. The valve stems are then in their fully retractedpositions. The locking plate 75 is then free to pivot about its pivotpin 76, to draw the valve body inwardly along the connectors 30 and 31and to lock the valve body in position on said connectors. When thelocking plate 75 in the locking position shown in P16. 1, the valvestems 65 and 73 are turned to their fully open positions by ascrewdriver or the like to fully open the shutoff valves. When saidvalve stems are in these positions, they will extend through theopenings or apertured portions 82 in the ledge 77. This will lock thelocking plate 75 from pivotal movement into a release position and willthereby positively lock the valve body 10 to the manifold 11''.

Assuming the valve body has been connected to mounting plate 11" mountedthereon and the dispenser valve is mounted on the manifold in itsoperative position, with the cover 16 covering the valves 11 and 12,when it is desired to remove the valve body 10'for inspection and repairof the valves 11 and 12, it is merely necessary to remove the machinescrew 17 and lift the cover 16 from the valve body and mountingmanifold.

The syrup and water valve passageways are then closed by the turning ofthe valve stems 65 and 53 into positions beneath the bottom of the ledge77. The locking plate 75 is then released and may be pivoted about theaxis of the pivot pin 76 to release the valve body from the outletconnectors 30 and 31. The valve'body and valve mounted thereon may thenbe removed from the mounting manifold, by pulling the valve body in astraight line in a direction away from the manifold.

With such an arrangement the valve body 10 and valves 11 and 12 may bequickly removed from their support'forservice or cleaning, and the syrupand water lines leading from the dispenser cabinet must be in a closedposition prior to releasing the valve body, to be removed from themanifold, making it unnecessary to shut off the fluid inletlines in thedispenser cabinet.

It should further be understood that the manifold 11" may be of variousarrangements, and that the passageways leading through said manifold mayinclude passageways for recirculating carbonated water through themanifold ifdesired, and that the principal feature in the presentinvention is the provision of a support manifold for the valve body inwhich the valve body is always locked to the manifold when thepassageways through the manifold are open for the passage of fluidtherethrough, and the valve body can only be removed when thesepassageways are fully closed.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which the inventionmay be embodied, it may readily be understood that various variationsand modifications in the invention may be attained without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

lclaim:

1. in a mountingfor detachably mounting dispenser valves and the like ona source of supply of a drink to be dispensed:

at least one dispenser valve;

a valvebody for said dispenser valve having at least one inlet leadingthereinto;

a manifold having at least one inlet fluid connection leading thereintoand at least one outlet fluid connection leading therefrom;

a shutoff valve in said manifold between said inlet and outlet fluidconnections,

manually operable means on said manifold and relatively movable withrespect thereto, for opening and closing said shutoff valve in saidmanifold;

an interengaging sealing connection between said outlet fluid connectionand said inlet leading into said valve body;

a locking member pivoted for movement about an axis parallel to the axisof said inlet for movement into and out of locking engagement with saidvalve body and said outlet fluid connection; and

said locking member having a portion extending over said manuallyoperable means for opening and closing said shutoff valve and lockedfrom movement by said manually operable means except when said shutoffvalve is in a fully closed position, and thereby locking said valve bodyfor said dispenser valve to said manifold as long as said shutoff valveis open to establish a fluid connection between said inlet fluidconnection leading into said manifold and said inlet leading into saidvalve body.

2. A valve mounting in accordance with claim 1, wherein themanually'operable means for opening and closing the shutoff valvecomprises a valve stem extending above said manifold and interceptingsaid locking member and the portion thereof extending over said manuallyoperable means, and pivotally movable to accommodate free movement ofsaid locking member into release and locking positions only when theshutoff valve is in a fully closed position.

3. The valve mounting in accordance with claim 2:

wherein the valve stem has threaded engagement with said manifold andextends above said manifold;

wherein the mounting member has a portion extending over said valvestem, whenthe valve is in a closed position; and

wherein the portion extending over the valve stem is apertured toaccommodate the valve stem to pass therethrough, to retain said mountingmember for movesaid mentto a valve body releasing position except whensaid valve stem is in a fully retracted valve closing position.

4. The structure of claim 3:

wherein the manifold has a connector leading therefrom;

wherein the outlet fluid connection from said manifold leads throughsaid connector;

wherein the valve body is mounted on said connector;

wherein the connector has a locking slot therein; and

wherein the locking member is a plate pivoted to said valve' body andhaving locking engagement with said locking slot for retaining saidvalve body to said manifold.

5. The structure of claim 1:

wherein themanifold has parallel spaced inlet fluid connections;

wherein s'aidtmanifold has parallel spaced outlet fluid connectionsleading therefrom and having fluid communication with the associatedinlet fluid connections;

wherein a shutoff valve is mounted in said manifold in association witheach associated inlet and outlet fluid connection, for shutting off thepassage of fluid therethrough;

wherein a separate valve stem extends from each shutoff valve above saidmanifold and is movable inwardly of said manifold to shut off the flowof fluid through said outlet fluid connections;

whereinthelocking member is a plate pivoted for locking said valve bodyto said manifold; and

wherein the valve stems are movable into position to block movement ofsaid locking plate to a release position when said shutoff valves are intheir open positions, and only accommodate release of said locking platefrom said manifoldwhen said shutoff valves are in their fully closedpositions.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the locking plate is pivoted to saidvalve body and has locking connection with said outlet fluidconnections.

7. The structure of claim 6:

wherein the valve stems are threaded in said valve body and extendupwardly therefrom; and

wherein the locking plate has a ledge extending over said valve stemswhen in valve closing positions and apertu red to accommodate movementof said valve stems through the apertured portions of said ledge intolocking engagement therewith when said valve stems are in their valveopening positions.

